William t



(No Model.)

- W. T. MoGINNIS.

ELEGTRO MAGNETIC 00MB. 7 No. 312,487. Patented Feb. 17, 1885.

I liwerc/ifor:

M game 04% N. PETERS. Hmwuum hn. Waibinglon. D. C,

lindrical case A, is hermetically closed by UNITED STATES \VILLIAM T. MOGINNIS,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRO-MAGNETIC COMB.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 312,487, dated February 17, 1885.

Application filed October 16, 1884.

To all whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM T. MoGINNIs, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improved Electro-Magnetic Comb and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

My invention has for its object the construction of a comb which shall be adapted to the application of electricity to the scalp and roots of the hair, in combination, if desired, with a dampeningfluid, and which shall in itself constitute a complete portable'electromagnetic machine for any and all purposes.

In the accompanying drawings, Figurel is an elevation of my improved electromagnetic comb in its complete form as constructed with a fountain for a hair dressing or dyeing fluid; Fig. 2, a central longitudinal section of the same; Fig. 8, an end View of the comb with the cap removed,showing the vibrating armature; Fig. 4, a transverse section in line as x, illustrating the battery-cell and the fountain; and Fig. 5, a longitudinal section, upon a greatly enlarged scale, of one of the hollow teeth of the comb, illustrating its valve.

A represents a cylindrical case, made preferably of hard rubber, divided by a transverse partition, a, into two cells or chambers. Within the smaller of these chambers -a cylinder, B, Fig. 2, of carbon is closely fitted as an internal lining therefor, and the mouth of the chamber, constituting one end of the cymeans of a plug, 0, preferably of hard rubber, whose periphery is covered by an external facing or packing, b, of soft rubber, so as to make a tight joint with the cylinder when inserted therein. Arod, D, of zinc is secured endwise to the center of the inner face of the plug by means of a screw, 0, led through the plug or other equivalent device, so that when the plug is inserted into the mouth of the chamber the zinc rod shall project centrally therein without contact with its carbon lining B, as shown in Fig. 2. The zinc is so (No model.)

proportioned in length as that it will extend only to about midway of the chamber, so that when the chamber is properly charged the exciting-fluid may be withdrawn from the zinc by placing the cylinder A on end, with the plug 0 uppermost. \Vithin the chamber in the opposite end of the cylindrical case A an ordinary induction-coil, E, is fitted and provided with a damper, F, sliding back from the coil over a wooden block, F, interposed be tween the inner end of the coil E and the inner end of the chamber. The chamber containing the induction coil is closed by a plate or block, G, upon which is fitted the usual form of vibrating armature or current-interrnpter, G, (see Fig. 2,) and the end of the cylindrical casing A is enlarged laterally to accommodate, inclose, and protect this vibrating armature G of the rheotome. (See Fig. 3.) This enlargement of the casing affords also a lateral socket or recess, H, Figs. 2 and l, adapted to receive the end of a detachable semi-cylindrical tube, K, formed to extend from said socket to the opposite end of the casing A, to which it is secured by means of a clasp or band, L, adapted to encircle the opposite end of the tube K, and to be secured by a thumb-screw, M, or catch of suitable form. The outside of the casing A adjacent to the tube K is flattened along its entire length, so that the fiat side of the tube may fit and rest closely against the same and a neat joint be formed between them when the two are united, as described. The end of the tube K adapted to fit in the socket H is closed. Its opposite end is left open to be closed by a plug, N,which is made of rubber, or is rubber-lined to make a watertight joint. A series of hollow teeth, 1? P P, are inserted closely together in the tube K, to project therefrom opposite to its flat side in regular order, like the teeth of a comb. These teeth may be of hard rubber, made integral with the tube, or to be screwed in or driven in tightly with cement; or they may be of metal to be screwed into the tube or soldered thereto. A metallic conductingstrip, Q, is fitted in the flat side of 5 each wire within the tooth to close its outer end, and the wire is coiled to form a spiral spring, R, at a portion of its length, (see Figs. 2 and 4,) the resiliency of the spiral coil op erating automatically to force the valve T outward against its seat, a pressure upon the projecting end of the wire serving to open the Valve. The tube K need not necessarily have an opening in its fiat side, but by preference it is slotted longitudinally, and the metallic conducting-strip Q is made to cover it, being cemented thereon to make a water-tight joint. The primary wire of the induction-coil is connected in the customary manner by a wire led within the casing to the carbon lining of the battery-cell, the zinc rod carried by the plug being in like manner connected with the vibrating armature of the rheotome. This last connection may be made by causing a transverse metallic plate, C, on the plug 0 to overlap its sides far, enough to reach the end of a conducting plate, S, secured longitudinally upon the outside of the casing A, a wire (indicated by the dotted line in Fig. 1) being led from the strip to the vibrating armature G. The connection of the wire with the strip may be effected by means of a slide or switch, J, to permit the circuit from the battery to the induction-coil to be opened and closed at pleasure. A second longitudinal strip or plate, S, the counterpart of the plate S, is placed upon the opposite side of the casing A, as illustrated in Fig. 4, and is connected by a suitable wire with one end of the secondary wire -of the induction-coil, its opposite end being connected with the strip Q, to which the conductil'ig-wires in the teeth I are connected; hence when the comb is held in the hand and applied to the head or body a circuit is closed for thesecondary current from the-induction-coil, through the teeth of the comb and the body and hand of the party holding it, back through the plate S, or vice versa. The strip Q, is also connected with the outer end of the primary wire of the induction-coil, so that a circuit is also closed for the primary circuit through the teeth of the comb and the plate S at each interruption of the main circuit produced in the vibrations of the armature G. The outer end of the pin or screw 0 in the plug 0 of the battery is adapted to receive and hold a conductingcord. A second binding screw or catch is fitted upon the side of the case A, at W, to receive a conducting-cord, and by means of suitable electrodes attached to said cords theprimary circuit from the inductorium may be applied to the body independently of the comb, which, with its reservoir K, may in such case be wholly detached, leaving the case A, with its contained battery, induction-coil, and rheotome, to be used independently as a compact electro-magnetic machine.

I am aware that Letters Patent No. 260,718 were issued December 9, 1881, for an electric brush having a battery-cell and induction-coil fitted upon the back thereof to produce a vibrating current,which is transmitted through the wire bristles of the brush to a conductingplate in the handle, in a circuit which is closed through the body of the person holding the brush whenever the bristles are applied to the scalp. My invention differs therefrom in its construction, and

I claim as my invention 1. The combination, with the teeth of a comb, an electromagnetic machine adapted to support the comb and serve as a handle therefor, and external manualcontact-plates connected by suitable electric conductors with one end of the electrodes of said machine, of electric conductors terminating at the extremity of each tooth in the comb and suitably connected with the opposite electrodes of the machine, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

2. The combination, with an electromagnetic machine, external contact-plates connected to one of its electrodes, andafiuid-reservoir attached to the machine, of a series of hollow comb-teeth fitted to communicate each with said reservoir, and constructed each with a perforated end, through which a conductingwire connected with the opposite electrode of the machine is made to project, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

3. The combination, in a comb whose handle contains an electromagnetic machine, one of whose electrodes is connected with an external manual contact-plate on the handle, of conducting-wires terminating at the extremity of each tooth, and a spiral spring included in the length of each terminal wire to allow an elastic play of the wire through the end of the tooth, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

4. The combination, with a fluid-reservoir, of a series of hollow comb-teeth fitted thereto to communicate freely therewith, and an elastic wire adapted to move longitudinally within the tooth, to project exteriorly from the end thereof, and by its movement open and close the same, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two sn bscribing witnesses.

\VILLIAM T. MCGINN IS.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. ELLIS, A. B. MOORE. 

